Smart thoughts of the week: July 24-31
Throughout the week some of you drop some brilliant or at least somewhat thoughtful comments and so this is a try at highlighting some of them. Disclaimer: It’s not that I necessarily agree with all of them, but they were interesting and for the most part, well put.
At some point, just pull the dang trigger. (Justin): Are you guys alright with the team remaining so far under the cap the entire season? With teams bound to be racing to cut salary either for 2010 free agency or to avoid the luxury tax, it seems unlikely that the Thunder wouldn’t have offers to ‘rent’ their cap space. I’m still convinced that the rescinded Tyson Chandler trade had more to do with second guessing the finances than long term concerns about his health.
Now the team’s under the cap for almost the amount of money owed to Chandler this season, and he was succesfully flipped for the exact kind of player OKC needs (Okafor). In this instance I feel the trigger shy attitude of this management team got the best of them. Sam Presti probably has this year to still be given the benefit of the doubt, but if he isn’t active with all this flexibility next offseason it’ll be clear what’s what.
We even tried to nickname him “RW0″. So I guess it’s our fault. (Big G): This is the deal about us being down on Westbrook’s decision making is we want him to be a Chris Paul and he is not and will never be. I was not a fan when the Hornet were here so I do not have this bromance with Paul. Don’t get me wrong he is the best point in the league,but he has not won a title or even been to a finals. And I believe if something doesn’t happen dramatic to his team he will not in the foreseeable future.
Actually most teams that have won it all in the last 20 years did not have pure 10 assist point guard. So look at what article was actually about the 10 guys who’s stock rose and he did say he made the most plays for him self and others. That is what I think is going to be his calling card – he makes plays that normal point guards don’t all the time. So lets keep his game in perspecivte, not in the light of Chris Paul. Yes Paul can do a lot of things can’t but don’t forget Jet 0 can do some things Paul could never do.
Some people like feet. Sam Presti likes… draft picks? (Crow): I don’t know what [Etan] Thomas can do right now. His defensive rebounding and turnovers went the wrong direction last season. I have to think that Presti thinks he might be able to pull off another trade with Thomas before the deadline. Otherwise I’d say just buying out both Atkins and Wilkins would have been better, unless Thomas is more healthy, more ready than before. Can’t give this trade an accurate score yet. What is clear is that Presti has an absolute fetish for draft picks. It is currency but after the Spurs got their 3 stars they were draft pick sellers all the time. Will low first rounders and second round picks and mostly or entirely that help build out a winner? It is still early I have my doubts.
Two is better than one most times, but not when you’re trading in the NBA. (Kyle): Something that no one has really brought up? When you trade players they have to be within a certain percentage of each other’s salary, so this is what makes Etan more tradeable to teams wanting to dump cap space. Either way Atkins + Wilkins = Etan Thomas’s contract, but when trading to another team, it is MUCH easier to move one guy (especially a big) than a team that would have to take on 2 players.
I think he actually opens us up to twice the options at the trade deadline than the twosome of Wilkins + Atkins, firstly because his single man trade value is more due to his contract, thus enabling teams to dump larger contracts ($8 million+?) instead of little $3-5 million that we would have attracted from Wilkins+Atkins. Secondly, what has already been stated, is the fact that he is a center. If a team is going to dump contracts, they will be more likely to trade for a center (all teams have a big man lust) and thus will open even more doors. I just like the fact that guys making $8-9 million are usually better players, so with us being able to trade for one of those, that could mean we could be adding a very good player by the end of the year.
And maybe the most important point of all. (Jax Raging Bile Duct): I think we’ve all missed the most important discussion this brings up … now that Swift, Wilkins, Atkins and Watson are gone, who do we use as the team scapegoat for all of our jokes?
“And maybe the most important point of all. (Jax Raging Bile Duct): I think we’ve all missed the most important discussion this brings up … now that Swift, Wilkins, Atkins and Watson are gone, who do we use as the team scapegoat for all of our jokes?”
hmmm… blame collison for having too much wit during the timeouts?
or we could juse use the ugly uni’s.. (espically on road games.)
Holy Crap! I made the list!
So far, Byron Mullens and Royce lead the voting for the new scapegoat. Take that as you will.
@Jax Raging Bile Duct
It sucks, but I am willing to carry the burden.
yea i was about to say i’d blame Byron “Mullet” Mullens also but not sure he won’t be stuck in the D league.
hehe the mullet mullens.. even if its not true he looks like a mullet man and it rolls of the tounge
As much as I would like to have had Okafor, I can’t really blame Presti for the decision that was made. There was no way to anticipate that the Bobcats were going to do something that stupid. In fact, it was so stupid, I have assume that their GM called Jeff Bower with the offer, because I doubt Bower would have suggested it out of fear of ruining his credibility. It certainly wasn’t a scenario that should have been weighed in the front office’s decision to follow through with the deal. The best guess was, if the trade hadn’t been rescinded, we would have been stuck with an offensively inept dude wearing a boot for most of the next two years.
One thing you need to also remember about the Chandler – Okafor trade is that New Orleans took the several years remaining on Okafor’s contract. I think it’s going to wind up being a financial albatross around their neck, just like Peja’s contract. A lot of people accused Bennett of gutting the team to make them unwatchable. I can’t help but wonder if Shinn is trying to make it financially unfeasible for the Hornets to remain in NOLA.
So my Thomas and draft pick related thoughts goes from unwelcome initially to a smart thought passage of the week? It rises like ground lightning or something.
I just caught that this nickname proposal was probably subliminally prompted by Ra Lew (for Rashard Lewis) but you could nickname Russell Westbrook Ru Roo! (the feisty kangaroo!)
I’d look at Chris Quinn, Travis Diener for a 1 yr deal
or maybe DeMarcus Nelson or Alex Acker for a non-guaranteed deal or even a camp invite
I would consider signing Ryan Hollins or Aaron Gray.
As I said all on royce….40 wins….
Of the two I’d probably opt for Hollins.
Hollins has usually been light on defensive rebounding but did well in the playoffs. The Bulls didn’t need or trust or both Gray in the playoffs.
But then you get back to how an dhow much Thomas will be used versus using his net cost on young players. They probably don’t come with him and the others already here.
@Crow
Crow? Was that a sense of humor? Haha, just kidding.
I’d look at hollins, poor mans tyson chandler with feet that won’t fall off
@Crow
I’d give Will Conroy a look. That is, if Kyle Weaver isn’t your 3rd point guard.
Yeah Nick I have one, maybe I’ll let it out more.
Yeah Joe. I have mentioned Conroy before but he at least is trying out for the Rockets right now.
If they want a different 3rd PG and to add another player (and they probably don’t) then you could also consider Calloway. Pruitt, Mike Taylor Yue are now out there and there is little old Mike Wilks is you wanted more of a locker room, practice, mentor guy who could perhaps transition into an assistant coach.
I may have been off on whether Chris Quinn and Travis Diener are available and it isn’t important enough to worry about it.
Kwame Brown might not be a totally crazy consideration next summer or sooner. Depending on price. But is is unlikely.
If Ru Roo is too cutesy and it probably is, you could adapt the prior idea and try RWR (saying it is as “roar” like a young lion or some other version of a RWR growl for a “power” guard)
But if you are in to cheering you could mix up chants of “Ru Roo” – for speed or finesse plays- with “RWR!” for tough guy power plays depending on the play and your reaction to it.
And I should have said power PG. A power guard as I’ve used the term before is really an beefy and / or long power playing SG (like a Jason Richardson).
Kwame Brown could probably “carry the burden” discussed above and maybe fill some minutes decently. He can score in the post some if you throw him the ball and tell him to go to work, if he is in the mood. But the Mullens project makes this unlikely, unless they are forced to admit the entirely youth longterm design in not such a good idea, especially inside. Was Etan Thomas a tiny, temporary admission of that or just more flotsam in the name of draft picks and future flexibility?
The answer may be in how much he actually plays. Or maybe not.
I may be a bit snarky, so don’t take it personally–but criticizing Presti for failing to flip Chandler for Okafor is like criticizing the weatherman for failing to predict lightning would strike your house. Besides, if OKC had Okafor we would all be feeling some buyers’ remorse for that contract.
Presti likes draft picks because of where the team is in the cycle of building (opposite that of the Spurs). We know he is taking the patient, slow approach, and right now, draft picks are great. They can be traded, sold, or used, and they bring in young guns for a tryout on a team that still has some time and (roster AND cap) space for development. Once OKC signs some big-bucks contracts, and has a clear idea of the core players, they will stay away from draft picks, too. San Antonio doesn’t hate draft picks (look at Blair), but they can only afford to be very selective. They lack the cap space, court time, and window of opportunity to bring in rookies, and pretty soon OKC will be in the same boat. But not yet.
Speaking of Blair, how many of you would flip Mullens for Blair in a heartbeat? I hate to say it, but “Mullet” Mullens already looks like he will never be the kind of post player OKC needs. But that’s hardly an original thought….
As for the Thomas trade, I really like it. At least Thomas has shown decent skills for his position (rebounding, court sense, defensive presence). Traded for a wing player with no outside shot and a point guard/role player who thinks he’s better than he is (also with no outside shot). Thomas has no outside shot either, but who cares? He’s had some injury troubles, so maybe he comes back from that stronger. Maybe not. He’s low risk, low rent. All I know is my wife thought he was the best-looking player on the court when we watched the wiz beat the Sonics a few years ago (yes she has a thing for dreads). Who can say that for Wilkins or Watson?
Sorry, Thomas was traded for Atkins, not Watson.
I always liked hustle Russell. . .
Or just hustle Westbrook.